Heading into Saturday night’s match at BBVA Compass Stadium, Chivas USA knew they would be matching up against a Houston Dynamo side looking to remain among the Eastern Conference’s top five and hold off the clubs nipping at their heels in the standings. Although the Rojiblancos have been eliminated from playoff contention, the squad entered the inter-conference showdown looking to come away with a road result in an effort to close out the remainder of the 2013 campaign in strong form.

After the home side took a one-goal advantage into halftime, the Goats found new life five minutes into the second half when midfielder Eric Avila tallied his third goal of the season to equalize the match. Avila caused a turnover inside midfield and pushed the ball into the attacking third behind the arc, where he then looked to set up teammate Carlos Alvarez on his left. Alvarez got off his strike past Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall’s right, but the shot caromed off the post. Avila, however, was trailing the play and headed the rebound into the back of the net.

“I ended up taking the ball and moving it forward,” Avila said. “I saw [Carlos] Alvarez opening up and I gave it to him. He took a wonderful shot and luckily it just came back to me and I finished off what Alvarez started. I knew exactly what he was going to do. I didn’t expect it to hit the post like that. But luckily it came right to me.”

Houston, however, responded in convincing fashion in front of their home crowd and knocked in four unanswered goals to secure crucial points and maintain their standing among the top teams in the East. For Avila and the rest of the Red-and-White, the match went from battling in a 1-1 tie to watching the home side run away with it. The Dynamo reclaimed the lead just four minutes after Avila’s score, and as the midfielder said after the match, the squad did not stay calm in light of the swing in momentum.

“I think we just got a little too excited and wanted to keep pushing and pushing for the next goal and maybe we forgot to keep control,” Avila added.

The Rojiblancos have four remaining matches left in the season, and as Avila noted, there are still positive things for the young club to play for.

At 25, the first-year Chivas midfielder is still among the younger players on the club, but with six MLS seasons under his belt, he is by far one of the most experienced. The Southern California native knows the matchups ahead will be just as challenging and the need to quickly move on from Saturday’s 5-1 result.

“Obviously it’s been up and down during the season. But a game like this we just really have to sit down with the guys and motivate them to keep it going. It hurts us for the next game but we just have to continue on and help them know that there is still hope, because we’re playing for us and the fans,” he concluded.

Up next for the Goats is a home match against in-state and Western Conference rival the San Jose Earthquakes this Sunday, who will also come into their match hungry for three points to strengthen their playoff push. In contrast, the Red-and-White will look to play spoiler and continue their recent solid home stretch with a win in the series finale beginning at 8 p.m. (PT).